A/N: I almost wasn't going to continue this story, having absolutely no idea where to go from the ending of my last chapter, but while seething over my inability to see episode 49, and the amazing chapter updates from Digidestined of Courage and Flamegaruru, I was inspired.

Beelzebumon: And here I was thinkin' that the whole torture that Ichijouji kid story that you wrote on Sunday had brought it on.

Erm…well I didn't really torture him, per say.

Beelzebumon: So putting him in the desert and forcing him into a mental breakdown ain't torture?

…This is why I don't have permanent muses. Oh well, I hope that I've kept everyone in character and that you enjoy my story! Rukato para siempre! (Forever)

Disclaimer: Digimon is the property of Toei Animation and of Bandai

Chapter 1: Friendly Dis-Intervention

The night was pleasant; the warm wind blew with warm breath hinting of summer and vacation. The air was comfortable and in decorated bedroom located within Tokyo's West Shinjuku district, a young boy named Matsuda Takato smiled while lying within his bed.

The day itself had started out normal enough. He had woken up early for school and eaten his breakfast like he usually did. The school day had been nothing special either. With all the school he had missed while the Tamers had been in the Digital World on their mission to retrieve Culumon, he had missed quite a bit of his schoolwork.

~*~

"You'd think that we'd get some kind of break!" Shiota Hirokazu had complained when they were eating lunch that day. "I mean, how many other kids can say that they saved, not just Japan, but the world from a computer program gone psycho?"

Katou Juri had smiled and held up her puppet-covered hand. "But if we didn't have homework, rowf, it wouldn't be fair to the other children, rowf, rowf!" She made her puppet say.

Kitagawa Kenta frowned. "That's just what my dad said. But he also added in a bunch of stuff about setting an 'example' for other kids too."

Takato opened his mouth to speak, but was suddenly interrupted.

Hirokazu raised one of his hands to his head. "An example?" He moaned. "Oh man, how much worse can things get?"

Lee Jenrya lowered the book that he had been reading and looked at Hirokazu skeptically. "I think you're making a bigger deal out of things than they are. We may have a lot of work to do, but it isn't really that hard, if you put your mind to it."

"That's easy for you to say, you're a regular genius." Hirokazu retorted.

"Uh, guys-" Takato began.

"It has nothing to do with being a genius. I'm just saying that you're overreacting."

"Guys-"

Juri glanced over at Takato and noticed the frustrated expression on his face. Her brown eyes narrowed slightly as her face became determined.

"Me, overreact? No way!" Hirokazu continued.

"Takato wants to talk and it isn't very nice that you won't let him, rowf!" Juri's puppet interrupted.

Takato glanced at her appreciatively, causing her to smile back at him. "All wanted to say was that Jen is right. We've overcome Wild Digimon, the Devas and even D-Reaper. Compared to them, homework should be easy."

"Takato, you've got way too much time on your hands." Hirokazu replied. A strange look crossed his face and he suddenly stood from the lunch table, pulling Kenta up with him.

"Speaking of homework, I just remembered that I have to do some math homework that was due yesterday and Kenta needs to help me, since he didn't hand it in either."

"Yes I did-" Kenta began to protest.

"No you didn't! We'll see you guys later." Hirokazu walked away from the lunch table, practically dragging Kenta beside him.

Juri, Jenrya and Takato watched them depart in shock.

"Um, that was weird." Takato finally said sweatdropping.

Jenrya grinned slightly. "When it comes to those two, I've come to expect that."

~*~

So maybe things hadn't been completely normal that day, Takato thought reluctantly. But it had been what had happened when he went to the park after school when things had gotten strange. He had seen Ruki standing by a tree, alone and looking upset.

After some hesitation, he had gone to speak to Ruki, who had seemed really angry with him, though he didn't know why. She kept bringing up Juri and telling him that he should go and speak to her. It had taken some time, but he had managed to convince her of the truth, that he and Juri were just friends. But when he had tried to tell her how he felt about her…

~*~

Takato stepped forward. "Ruki…"

Ruki turned to him. "What is it?" She asked crossly.

"I just wanted to say that-um…" Takato stammered.

"Say what? What are you trying to say Takato?" She asked warily.

I can't do this again. Takato thought desolately. "Nothing." He sighed. "Forget it."

Ruki walked closer to Takato until she was directly in front of him. She slowly leaned forward and closed her eyes.

Is she going to…Takato closed his eyes well and felt their lips meet.

It was brief, as were they in their innocence and youth. But their kiss would be an event that they would always remember.

One minute they were standing and the next they were…Ruki pulled away from Takato and ashamedly felt herself blush. Takato was wide eyed and looked away.

They stood in silence, both Tamers shocked by what had occurred.

Ruki glanced at Takato. "So what were you going to say to me goggle-head?" She finally asked.

And Takato smiled.

~*~

Takato placed a hand against his lips, still feeling a sense of shock about what had happened. He felt happy, there was no question of that, but he also felt a sense of unreality, and wondered if he fell asleep and awakened the next day, if he would find out that everything had been nothing more than a wonderful dream.

He didn't want it to have been a dream. Though they had parted only hours ago, Takato longed to see Ruki again, even more so than before they had kissed.

Feeling his eyes slowly closing, Takato wondered if Ruki felt the same way, after their kiss she had been reluctant to leave the park, but a call on her cell phone from her grandmother had forced her to do so.

He had went home a few minutes later and though his parents had been worried about him, they trusted him and when he told them that he had been at the park, they had been relieved.

Takato smiled slightly as his consciousness began to fade. Guilmon, I miss you so much, but now, I don't feel so alone anymore. And with that final thought, the young Tamer slipped into slumber.

~*~

Cold…so terribly cold

From within a world of ice, Makino Ruki struggled to draw her breath.

The ice was everywhere. All encompassing, all surrounding. Ruki felt as though she were drowning in it.

And then there were the footsteps. They cracked the ice loudly causing Ruki to turn, only to have them vanish and reappear somewhere else.

Not again. Ruki thought furiously. Where the heck am I?

"Makino Ruki." A mysterious voice whispered beside her.

Ruki turned quickly, only to find the frozen emptiness greet her. "Whoever you are, show yourself! Or are you too afraid? Is that it?" She yelled.

No response came.

Ruki clenched her fists tightly as a gust of frigid wind blew past her. I've had enough of this. She began walking, as she had many times before, searching for a way to escape.

A loud shattering sound behind her caused Ruki to flinch but not turn. She'd had enough of these hide and seek games and wasn't going to buy into them any longer.

"Don't turn away from me human!" The strange voice suddenly shrieked, causing Ruki to cover her ears due to its high pitch.

The shriek then lowered into an androgynous voice, satiated with malice. "Icicle Stunner!" It called venomously. Ruki turned towards the sound of the voice and caught a glance of blue hair, and red eyes, as several shards of jagged ice was launched directly at her chest…

~*~

"No!" Ruki screamed as she awakened with a start. Her heart hammered within her chest and a cold sweat covered her body.

The door to her bedroom flung open, as both her mother and grandmother entered it hurriedly. Makino Rumiko looked as pristine as ever, even in a simple blue bathrobe, an uncharacteristic expression of worry had crossed her beautiful face.

A look of concern crossed Hata Seiko's face as she noticed her usually unflappable granddaughter shaking slightly.

Rumiko quickly moved to the side of Ruki's bedroll. "Ruki honey, are you all right? We heard you screaming."

Ruki stared at her for a moment, then shook her head. "I'm fine." She snapped curtly, trying to keep her nervousness from entering her voice.

Her mother looked stung. "But you obviously don't look fine. Do you want to talk about it? I always end up feeling better when I discuss my bad dreams with your grandmother."

Seiko notice Ruki's demeanor bristling slightly as her daughter continued speaking.

"I told you that I'm fine! I didn't have any dreams and I don't want to talk about anything." Ruki answered her mother coldly.

Seiko sighed and reached fir her daughter's hand. "If Ruki doesn't want to speak, then we shouldn't force her to."

"But-" Rumiko began to argue

"She'll talk to us when she's ready to do so." Seiko said wisely. Rumiko sighed reluctantly. "Ruki, if you need anything we'll both be downstairs, okay?"

Ruki nodded distractedly. "Fine."

Seiko left the room drawing the reluctant Rumiko behind her. Rumiko cast a final glance at her daughter and continued out of the room.

Ruki watched her leave with feelings of intense irritation. She knew that she had hurt her mother, and truthfully hadn't meant to do so. She just couldn't stand appearing like some weak and helpless little girl, when she knew that she was anything but.

She made a sound of frustration. She'd been having that dream for days, but never had it been so detailed. And that voice, she couldn't place the face, but the voice had been so filled with hatred and rage.

She clenched her fists. I don't know what's going on, but I plan upon finding out. She thought resolutely. Feeling more secure, Ruki pulled the blankets of her bedroll around her. I may not have Renamon with me anymore, but no one makes me look weak or vulnerable and gets away with it. She thought resolutely, the earlier events of the day never even entering her mind as she settled down for an uneasy sleep.

~*~

The next morning in West Shinjuku Park, two figures stood hunched over a group of Digimon trading cards.

"…And that's the plan." Hirokazu finished explaining to Kenta as he placed a Death Meramon card down on the ground.

The blue haired Tamer narrowed his eyes, thinking hard as he studied his deck. As he was drawing his card he looked at Hirokazu uncertainly. "But what if he doesn't like the idea? You saw how mad he was when Beelzebumon destroyed Leomon and I just don't want him to get that mad at us."

Hirokazu rolled his eyes. "Give me a break Kenta. We've known Takato for years, he wouldn't flip out on us like that. Besides, he'll probably be glad that we did it, since he's obviously too chicken to do it himself.

"I wouldn't call Takato a chicken if I were you."

"With psycho, Ultimate biker Digimon and a computer game that wanted to eat the world, you're right. But with girls…c'mon you've seen them together! All they need is for someone to make a move and get them started. And who better then the Dynamic Duel of Hirokazu and Kenta matchmakers' extraordinaire!

Kenta sweatdropped. "I just hope you're right about this."

Hirokazu smirked. "In a few days, Juri and Takato will admit that they're madly in love and who knows, maybe we can get Jen and Ruki together too!"

"Now I know you're crazy! If we try something like that, we won't have to worry about Takato being mad at us, Ruki will end up beating us to a pulp!"

Hirokazu considered it. "You're probably right. But maybe we can get Ryou to help us…"

~*~

Wow things are getting interesting. I won't give the next chapter away, but I can say that my guest muses are two busy people, whose jobs give pressure a new meaning. I don't usually have muses, but now I see why many authors choose to do so, it is slightly entertaining.